frank Finds: What to Talk About When You Talk About Going Viral

June 6, 2016 | frank

By Alexandra Booth, frank social media strategist

The Politics of Viralability

Here Are The Feels That Make Internet Things Go Viral

We all wonder what makes one story go viral versus another. Turns out the way stories make us feel plays an important role. In a recent study, researchers examined what caused popular web stories to go viral. They found stories that make people feel empowered and in control are more likely to be shared. Stories that leave people excited or upset are more likely to receive comments.

Black Teens Are Breaking the Internet and Seeing None of the Profit

Many of the most popular posts on social media platforms like Vine and Youtube come from the black community. Popular phrases, dances and trends originate from these posts, yet it’s hard to track ownership as ideas and content become a part of mass culture. For example, did you know “on fleek” started from one teen’s Vine account? Ownership of content and ideas has now become a source for debate around cultural appropriation. “Part of the reason the originators of viral content are stripped from their labor is because they don’t technically own their production. Twitter does, Vine does, Snapchat does, and the list goes on,” Doreen St. Felix argues in this piece on Fader.

‘Like’ It or Not, Teen Brain is Primed to Join the Crowd

Teen brains are trained to like what’s “cool” or “socially appropriate” based on what other people have liked on social media, according to researchers. The popularity of a photo and the number of ‘likes’ it has can impact the way it is perceived. The higher the number of likes, the more likely someone will also “like” it. Popular photos that receive a lot of “likes” activate regions in the brain associated with extreme pleasure, vision, social memories, rewards and imitation.

Using Movies to Move People to Action

The Director of HBO’s “All the Way” Talks LBJ, MLK, and What They Can Teach Today’s Pols

This new HBO film tells the story of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the events and emotions surrounding his presidency. Even though the movie depicts the past, there are lessons to be learned for modern-day politics. Director Jay Roach hopes that the film can set an example of great political leadership aimed at improving citizen’s lives.